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Piezoelectric devices contain materials where electric charge is created due to mechanical stress. The presentations, posters, and papers on this page describe multiphysics simulation for devices such as sensors, controllers, and gyroscopes, and applications such as energy harvesting.

This work is concerned with systems possessing cyclic symmetries. In particular, we concentrate on the case in which the medium possesses infinite order cyclic symmetry, while the constitutive relations have cyclic symmetry of a lower order. We investigate the interactions between modes with cyclic symmetry of order n and geometries with underlying cyclic symmetry of order M. Rayleigh's Quotient is used to relate the frequency splitting to the relative orders.

A solid state Piezoelectric Micro Machined Modal Gyroscope is a vibratory type of gyroscope which sense the motion by voltage induced due to Coriolis force. It utilizes natural frequency of the structure to maximize the displacements and hence maximizing the induced voltage signals for sensing.The mode suitable for gyroscopic motion is 9th mode, which was found to be vibrating at 350.217 kHz. A design modification is introduced and its modal and harmonic analyses are done. The new structure is found to be vibrating at 3.064 kHz. Also the modified structure has two distinct vibratory modes which are symmetric making it ideal for dual axis sensing. Having lower modal frequency and larger vibratory amplitude causes increase in sensitivity of the gyroscope.

MEMS is the leading technology which combines both electronic and mechanical devices on a single microchip. Tracing the position of the object is an important problem in engineering. This can be addressed by Gyroscopes. These sensors are used to find orientation and angular velocity.
This paper focuses on 3D MEMS Piezoelectric Gyroscope. COMSOL Multiphysics® is used for designing and simulation of the device. It uses piezoelectric effect to detect orientations.

Various cantilever geometries (conventional rectangular,pi,Tandtriangular) are simulated using the Structural Mechanics module of COMSOL Multiphysics® to compare their spring constants. A layer of piezoelectric material (ZnO,AlN and PZT are modeled) is added to the cantilever and using the Piezoelectric Devices physics of COMSOL Multiphysics®, we determine the piezoelectric voltage that is generated in each of these cases.

In this paper we made an attempt to maximize the power output in the different piezoelectric materials in a unimorph cantilever beam configuration. In this research, a macro scale unimorph piezoelectric power generator prototypes consists of an active piezoelectric layer, stainless steel substrate and titanium proof mass was designed for frequencies 60 Hz - 200 Hz. An analytical model of a micro power generator is used to obtain displacement, voltage and generated power which are the figures of merit for energy harvesting. This model is presented for three different piezoelectric materials like, PbZrTiO3 (PZT), PVDF and PMN-0.33%PT. The designed unimorph piezo energy harvesting system was modeled using COMSOL Multiphysics® and the observed parameters are compared with analytical results.

Due to the increasing demand for hydrogen gas sensors for applications such as automation, transportation, or environmental monitoring, the need for sensitive and reliable sensors with a short response time is increasing. This paper presents an empirical model that studies the sensitivity of acoustic hydrogen gas sensors. A parametric study based on the variation of physical properties of sensitive layers was implemented using COMSOL Multiphysics®. Palladium is used as a sensitive layer because of its high ability to interact with hydrogen molecules. This model shows that the variation of frequency depends simultaneously on the physical and mechanical parameters variations of a sensitive layer. This study was performed considering acoustic delay lines operating in the ISM bands, at around 430 MHz and 920 MHz.

Pulse-echo FEM simulation is seldom found in literature for ultrasound imaging array probes, since the complete modeling of such device is extremely complicated.
Nevertheless, the 2D FEM described in the present work was successful, thanks to the following design procedure (see figure):
Two piezoacoustic models were employed, one for transmission of the pressure wave into the acoustic domain, one for reception. The far field pressure data output from the transmit FEM was exported and input as amplitude of an incident plane wave on the acoustic boundary of the ‘receive’ model, in order to get the final echo-voltage on the array piezoelement.
Finally, IFFT algorithm (MATLAB®) is used to recover the pulse-echo voltage waveform and compare it to the measured one.

Achieving passive device working over two GHz bands for next generation mobile phone has been strongly desired. This paper investigated the spurious mode suppression for the BAW resonator. The border-frame technique which has been proposed in many literatures is examined here numerically. It was found that the present finite-element analysis using COMSOL Multiphyiscs® was validated via comparison with existing finite-element computation for flat electrode, and that it could reproduce the suppression of the spurious modes by using the border-frame technique. Furthermore, the present study clarified by visualizing the structural vertical displacement of the top electrode surface that the suppression mechanism was due to the attenuation of the lateral wave along the surface of the top electrode.

Design of SAW devices needs the accurate study of the scattering fields, arising from the interaction of SAW with topographic irregularities. To solve this problem FE methods very perspective, because with its help one can take into account the actual geometry of the electrodes and reflectors.
This work describes results of original time domain calculation of 2D SAW scattering fields in delay line made on 128°YX LiNbO3 substrate. Reflection, transmission and scattering coefficients are numerically evaluated as functions of the reflector’s thickness.
Calculations of SAW scattering field's picture clearly show that the intense SAW energy scattering into volume occurs for certain parameters of the reflectors, while for some other configuration SAW pass through irregularities practically without scattering.

A COMSOL Multiphysics® model was made to design a mechanical amplifier and radiation plate for the emission of high intensity 40.5 kHz ultrasound to air by means of a Langevin type transducer usually applied in cleaning baths for example. In this work, ultrasonic irradiation is aimed at acting on flue gas containing fine particulate matter to realize a shift to higher effective particle sizes as a result of induced particle agglomeration.

University of Siegen, Institute of Mechanics and Control Engineering-Mechatronics, Siegen, Germany

For active Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), one popular sensor type is the piezoelectric wafer active sensor (PWAS) due to its multi-purpose application as actuator and sensor and its low cost. It is used to generate a wave field, which interacts with the structure and is recorded by a second set of PWASs. This method is called acousto ultrasonics.
The change in wave field from transducer damage is modeled in COMSOL Multiphysics®, where the multiphysics interaction of the undamaged or damaged PWAS and the structure is modeled in time and frequency domain. The investigation shows how important it is to check that employed sensors are intact, as sensor faults have a big effect on the generated wave field.

Adulteration of automobile fuels, especially petrol and diesel is a rampant malpractice in India. With the rising prices of fuel and the subsidy on kerosene, getting away with even 10-15% adulteration is immensely profitable.To check adulteration effectively, it is necessary to monitor the fuel quality at the distribution point itself. The equipment for this purpose should be handy and the measurement method should be quick, also be preferably economic (as a large number of such units would need to be simultaneously deployed) and easy to use.With this idea in mind, the main aim of this paper is to propose a design for an economical, hand-held device for easy detection of adulteration in fuel beyond permissible limits.

Finite element analysis (FEA) is a modern tool for exploration of new horizons in science, technology and engineering. Different computer software such as ANSYS, ABACUS, PZFLEX and COMSOL Multiphysics® based on FEA are used for modeling and simulation of acoustic phenomena, for design of new and optimization and improvement of existing acoustic engineering systems. This work presents application of FEA to modeling and simulation of different types of piezoelectric materials, including some new and promising ones such as piezo crystals PMN-PT and PIN-PMN-PT.
This work gives a comparison between experimental and modeling data for different types of piezoelectric materials with analysis of their effectiveness and efficiency. Graphs demonstrate significant elevations of mechanical displacements for PIN-PMN-PT piezoelectric crystals.

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The simulation of the piezoelectric actuation of the micro-cantilever is presented. Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) was chosen for the device fabrication design, due to its thin film processing flexibility. Four layers compose the cantilever structures presented in this work: PZT (piezoelectric material), Platinum (electrodes) and Zirconium Oxide as the buffer layer for the PZT film and polyimide as the structural elastic material. COMSOL Multiphysics® was used in order to simulate the d33 mode and calculate an appropriate design parameters of the interdigitated electrodes to obtain larger cantilever deflections.

Access to electricity has become a major problem. In the process of solving this problem we should consider even a small source of electricity. Piezotyres are made to produce electricity from vehicle tyres. For this we have used a piezoelectric property, one of the natural wonder.
COMSOL Multiphysics® was used to design and simulate it virtually. We have used different materials in the software for designing. We successfully generated electricity from vehicle tyres. We have changed different materials and shapes in simulation. By using piezotyres we can produce electricity in vehicles on the go. The main application of this product is electric cars.

The most commonly used type of resonator is the AT-cut, where the quartz blank is in the form of a thin plate cut at an angle to the optic axis of the crystal. This paper reports the modeling of a quartz oscillator for a resonant frequency analysis based on piezoelectric effects. The proposed oscillator consists of a single quartz disc with two electrodes on the top and bottom surfaces of the geometry; one of them is grounded. An AC voltage is applied to the top electrode. Then a capacitor of 1 pF is introduced between the voltage source and the top electrode of the crystal. Further computation of the frequency response of the proposed device was done by adding different capacitors in series.

Despite of the existing successful clinical applications, however, the interaction, i.e. artificial sensing, between the robot and the patient is still very limited. With the help of various cameras, vision is almost the only feeling that a robot can have. In order to imitate the human skin, various signals e.g., the strength of pressure, change of strength, speed and acceleration should be measured by the robot. Here we explore some design and fabrication techniques using different piezoelectric materials (CdS,AlN,ZnO) on an effective sensor which will be installed on surgical robotic arm in the future.
In this model, we investigate the Quality factor, Power dissipation & displacement with respect to Eigen frequency.

Ultrasound is a promising green technology for the advanced oxidation process (AOP) since it adds no chemicals to the treated water. In this paper, COMSOL Multiphysics® was used as a tool to design and characterize an ultrasound irradiator with multi-stepped configuration, which aims to overcome disadvantages of typical irradiators and to enhance contaminant removal in large-scale water treatments. COMSOL adequately simulated the acoustic wave generation in the transducer and propagation through the irradiator. The simulated acoustic pressure level and distribution suggested the designed irradiator successfully introduced multiple reactive zones and had a great capacity for large-scale AOPs. The compatible simulation results to experimental measurements indicate COMSOL is a reliable tool in the design and characterization of scaled-up ultrasound irradiator.

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices are widely used for their sensing capabilities and gas sensing is only one of many uses. There is an ever increasing need to make them as effective as possible by adding nanomaterials to the device. In this study a two-port delay-line structure with 128YX lithium niobate was simulated with COMSOL Multiphysics® in the form of a 2D cross-section. ZnO nanopillars were added to the sensing area of the device to increase sensitivity. Frequency and time dependant simulations were conducted on the device. It was found that even with the ZnO nanopillars the predetermined operating frequency for the SAW device is unchanged. The optimal height for the electrodes of the IDTs was determined to be 200nm.

A novel type of tunable surface acoustic waves (SAW) filter based on 1D phononic crystal controlled by electric is field proposed. The tunability of proposed filter varied over a wide range: 1-20%. Basic idea is electrical controlled induced periodical domains in ferroelectric film based on induced piezoelectric effect.

Microfluidic devices and lab-on-a-chip (LOC) require the ability to transport or pump reagents or reaction products, the ability to effectively mix small volumes of fluid, and provide direct data display. Surface acoustic wave (SAW) driven acoustic streaming generated by a piezoelectric material represents a developing solution to many of the demands of these devices with advantages over other pumping and mixing schemes. Most studies of this material limit their focus to the X-direction. However, annular and curved structures rely on operation along other crystal orientations. Such designs are promising because they focus the acoustic energy resulting in increased streaming effects, which translate to more effective mixing and pumping. In the work presented here, simulations of the material's response have been conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics®.

This contribution is dedicated to numerical analysis of SAW propagation though 2D surface phononic crystal (PnC) and FE method is nowadays one of most common tool for such calculation. The device under investigation consists of two dispersive IDT and lattice of ferromagnetic pillars realized on 128°YX LiNbO3. In addition to dispersion curves calculations this work describes the results of original 3D FE modeling of the electrical properties of such SAW device via evaluation of SAW propagation through observed structure that give quantitative transmission characteristics.
We demonstrated that this model permits to evaluate electrical response of PnC based devices. Obtained results show good agreement between band diagram and transmission computations.This model can be used for advance designing of PhC.

We have modeled surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices composed of piezoelectric materials: aluminum nitride (AlN), lithium niobate (LiNbO3), and quartz. These materials are often used in RF filters and wireless sensors, which require temperature compensation for stability. Using our COMSOL Multiphysics® simulation with published values of thermal expansion for each material, we simulated the TCF of each structure and observed the effects of the materials and the SiO2 trench shapes on the TCF.